Conversion flying at Skynex Aero Jalgaon Base

Flying into Jalgaon in VT-RKE, a 9-year-old ATR 72 delivered to Alliance Air in July 2017. Pleasantly surprised that there were direct flights from Mumbai to Jalgaon. This route I presume, is part of the UDAAN scheme to improve regional connectivity in India. There were no meals served on this flight, and carrying your own entertainment was the way to go for this flight.

The pilots of this flight were both Goans who had completed their flying from New Zealand, and both recognised me having an NZICPA jacket on. One had completed his flying from Paraparam and the other from Dunedin.

Flew into Jalgoan on the 26th of January, but I could not get an Aerodrome entry pass till the 30th of January due to Republic Day security measures. 

After getting an Aerodrome Entry permit, I got busy snapping their fleet. Skynex Aero have 2 types of single-engine aircraft in its fleet. The Piper Archer X, which is powered by a liquid-cooled Continental CD-155 Diesel engine with FADEC driving a three-blade MT-Natural composite constant speed propeller. These aircraft are equipped with G1000 avionics without autopilot. They also have 2 C172, one powered by the above-mentioned engine and the other powered by a Lycoming engine situated at the Mehsana base. Here are a few pictures of the fleet. 

VT-CZR snapped here, sitting in the hangar for its routine maintenance checks. Skynex promptly track the hours remaining on each aircraft and services them regularly. MSN 2881238 (7 years old) is one of the oldest Piper Archers in the Skynex fleet. 

VT-CZR snapped here, all set to go for a few night sorties.

VT-KDS (MSN 17280679), aged 27 years old (the oldest aircraft in Skynex's fleet), is often known as the killer(because I fly this XD) among students, because this aircraft does not appear on ADS-B. There are a lot of items which are inoperative on this aircraft, and ADS-B is one of them. However, besides all its shortcomings, this aircraft flies pretty well. 

VT-KTU 2881797 1-year-old Piper Archer (former N797DX) seen here parked up in the Skynex Apron. Quite rare to see so many aircraft parked up because most of the time (weather permitting) all of the aircraft are up in the air flying!

VT-NXA 2881638, formerly N80674, seen parked up at the Jalgoan apron.

VT-NXA is seen here again, this time in the hangar, possibly for some routine inspections. A pretty cool feature of Skynex Aero's maintenance team is that they work around the clock, day and night!

VT-NXB 2881677, formerly N80769, seen on the Skynex apron after hours. When there's night flying happening, the apron is always lit, and there are comparatively fewer students and staff at night. Travel to and from the airport at night is not easy. 

VT-NXE 2881808, formerly N807DX, spotted on the Skynex Apron

VT-NXF 2881809, formerly N809DX, seen in the night light at the Skynex apron.

VT-NXJ 2881835 formerly N835DX

VT-NXG 2881832 N832DX shining outside the Jalgaon sun with the new Skynex hangar under construction in the background. 

VT-NXK 2881836 N836DX seen parked inside the Skynex hangar after a routine check 

Flyola Aviation Academy's newest addition to the fleet - VT-OLP, formerly SE-LZH, a 20-year-old C172R with a standard Lycoming engine with 2 prop blades.

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Plane spotting at Jari Mari 6/1/26

 Jari Mari is by far one of the best plane spotting locations in Mumbai. Located close to runway 27 holding point N1, it serves as a perfect viewing platform for avgeeks to watch a wide plethora of planes arrive and depart into Mumbai. Although the access to this place is quite dirty, the views totally make up for it. Have been visiting this place since 2023 and have never witnessed any issues whatsoever. However, while I was away from India from mid 2024 to the end of 2025, there have been a few changes at this spot, the most noticeable one being the presence of CISF ( Central Industrial Police Force) at the spot. You aren't allowed to take photos of any planes anymore, but you're still allowed to watch aircraft movements from the spot. On this day, I wasn't aware of the new regulations at this spot, so I went out with my DSLR for the first time to this spot to catch a few wide bodied aircrafts, but within minutes, we were told by bystanders to put down such photography equipment or the police would confiscate it. Fearing action from the police, I tucked away my camera in my bag and continued to watch the planes pass by. An hour later, the police showed up and threatened us with fines if we didn't comply. After half an hour of back and forth, we got away with a warning. Probably won't be going back to this spot anytime soon. 

Anyways here are a few photos of aircraft I captured on the day 

Oman Air A4O-BT (MSN 40071/5639) from Mumbai to Muscat as WY204. This Boeing 737-9 was manufactured in Renton, USA, in October 2015 and is powered by 2 x CFMI CFM56-7BE. It has a total capacity of 183 seats, broken into 12 in business and 171 in economy. Oman Air serve Mumbai airport with 2 daily flights, both being 737s.

VT-ALJ is a special Star Alliance Air India 777-300ER (MSN 36308/643) livery built in Everett, USA, in Oct 2007 for Air India and was painted in its special livery in March 2015. This aircraft is powered by 2 GE-90 engines and is nicknamed "Bihar" after the state of Bihar. Seen here making a late turn to N1. Operating as AIC131 to London Heathrow.

Next up was an Indigo A320neo VT-IVA (MSN 7912) powered by Pratt and Whitney Engines operating as 6E410 to Jodhpur. This flight was delayed by almost an hour due to unscheduled runway inspections. This aircraft was grounded when Indigo had issues with Pratt and Whitney engines and was stored at Nagpur, but has since returned to normal service. It was delivered to Indigo in November 2017 and is currently 8 years old. 

Finally, before the camera went back in my bag was an Air India (Vistara livery) A320Neo VT-TNB (MSN 7606) operating as AI2595. Built in Toulouse, France, in 2017, this airframe was delivered to Vistara, which then subsequently merged with Air India when Tatas took over Air India. The airframe is 8 years old and is powered by 2 CFM engines.